Paleoconservative Observations

Tsunami

This event is fairly overwhelming in every sense of the word. It shows several things, however, relevant to our ordinary lives. It shows the value of preparation and modern infrastructure. Japan has lost, it appears, several thousand of its citizens. This tragedy stands in stark contrast to the hundreds of thousands lost in Haiti and Indonesia as a result of their decades-long mismanagement, shoddy construction, and lackadaisical attitudes. At the same time, Japan’s situation also shows the fragility of modern societies. While preparation has helped Japan considerably, our lives and infrastructure are highly interconnected. Japan’s nuclear plants appear to be on the brink of a meltdown. The impact of such an event can last many years and cost many lives, as occurred in Chernobyl in the former Soviet Union. America’s nuclear plants likely have similar vulnerabilities, and, like Japan, it’s not so clear what we could do about it other than mass evacuation. Finally, personal preparedness for disasters, whatever we may likely face, is an individual responsibility that does much to secure peace of mind, reduce the impact of disasters, and relieve pressure on overtaxed governments. Japan has a culture of preparedness. America, not so much. Even though Katrina and the 2005 Tsunami disaster should be on people’s minds, it is doubtful if very many people in California have “bugout” bags in the event of the Big One or that many people on the Eastern Seaboard have put away some flashlights and canned food in the event of a major Hurricane. These events are not so rare or unpredictable that such preparations are extravagant or paranoid. They’re eminently sensible but, unlike Japan and more like Haiti, many Americans prefer to live in a fantasy land of wishful thinking.

I live on the Left Coast. I went to a local presentation put on by my county councilman, and there was a man there from FEMA there. This was a year after Katrina. He told us, given what we saw with Katrina, we should have seven days of supplies stored up, not three days, as is commonly promoted. All the local GUMMINT folks agreed, the gist of the meeting was “be prepared: have seven days of supplies.” But that’s because we’re in earthquake country. Even non-imbeciles can’t clear out before an earthquake.

I reckon I’m one of the few who has seven days. It’s a pain doing that, too, because you have to stock food, and rotate it.